Ditching-machine.



No. 852,207; PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

- W. UMSTEAD.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.21, 1906.

INVENTOI? 776422122- Um siead rim ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR. 30, 190v.'

No. 852,207, W. UMSTEAD;

DITGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED PEB.21, 190a.

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WITNESSES.

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DlTOHlNG-IVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented April 30, 1907.

Application filed February 21,1906. Serial No. 302,305.

To rn/i- 1071/0111 it 'H'l/(bl/ con/(30771,.-

Be it known that I, Arman Ui\[S'lEAD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Jerseytown, in the county of Columbia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Ditclring-idachine, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, andexact dej scription.

The purpose of the invention is to improve upon the construction of aditching machine for which Letters Patent were granted to me in theUnited States, May 2, 1905, Serial No. 788,965, whereby the point of theplow is given a long downward curve at its working 1 end, rendering itmuch more effective in service, and its entrance into the ground muchmore gradual, and further making the point detachable and providingquite a long flat surface for the working face of theplow at the point,and imparting a twist to the plow where the point joins the mold-boardsection 1 in order to start the ground to the moldboard section to bemoved along by the cleaning wing at the surface of the ditch.

Another improvement consists in mounting the plow as to give it aslanting pitch for the top of the ditch, and so that the inclination canbe changed as the ditch deepens to obtain a more vertical pitch and tokeep the twisted portion of the plow as near as )ossible to the top ofthe ditch, so that the earth will be raised without crowding the bankand breaking the edges of the ditch.

A further improvement is to so mount the plow that it can be pitchedforward and above the level of the bottom of the cutters to enable allof the force to be brought to i cutters, and to permit the bear upon theloosened earth to pass under the plow 1n the event the round 18 veryhard at the bottom of the ditch, otherwise the ground is continuouslythrown out from the ditch.

Another improvement is to so mount and construct the cleaning wing thatit will accommodate itself to the difference in depth of the ditch, andso that it will automatically tilt up and down to accommodate itself tothe differences in the pitch of the plow, enabling the cleaning wing toscrape level on the surface of the ground at all times.

Another improvement lies in the provision of a boat-shaped guide,adjustabl r located in advance of the cutters, and in rendering thecutters reversible and detachable, and providing them with opposingcutting edges, so that a cutter can be used twice as long as ordinarywithout sharpening.

struction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafterfully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference 1 indicatecorresponding parts in all the fig 3 urcs.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with the frame beam insection; Fig. 2 is a .front elevation of the machine with the frame beamin section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the body of the machine viewed1 partly from the bottom and partly from a l side of the machine, thesaid body being tilted upward and rearward from the botl in Fig. 1looking in the direction of the ar l row crossing said line; Fig. 1 isan enlarged l horizontal section through the plow and the l clearingwing and Fig. 5 is an enlarged horil zontal section through the cuttershank and l cutter. l A represents the frame bar, which is arched andmade of angle iron, and to the end portions of this bar the spindles 10are secured which carry the supporting wheels 11. The frame beam 12 isattached to a frame I bar A at its center and extends forward a desireddistance, and at its forward end is l adapted to carry a neck yoke, notshown in l l l l the drawings. This frame beam 12 is braced by bars 13attached to its sides and to the arched frame bar A, as is best shown inFig. 2. The support 14 for the drivers seat 15 is secured to the rearportion of the said frame beam 12 as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

A horizontal channel bar A is secured to the 1 under face of the archedframe bar A to the left hand side of its center, and the said channelbar A extends f arthcr to the rear than to the front and is supported atthe front by a bracket bar 16 secured to the channel bar 1 and to theunder face of the frame beam 12, l as is also shown in Fig. 1. A link17, also preferably made in the form of a channel l iron, is pivoted atits upper end to the horil zontal channel bar A, preferably at a point ijust in advance of the attachment of said channel bar A to the frame barA, the piv- The invention consists in the novel conotal connection beingmade through the] medium of a pivot pin 17 as is best shown in Figs. 1and 2, and the lower end of the said link 17 is pivotally connectedthrough the medium of a bolt 17 or its equivalent, to the rear U-shapedhead section 19 of a forwardlyextending plow beam 20. of the link 17 arecess 18 is made for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The forwardend of the plow beam 20 is suspended by means of a link 21 pivotallyattached to the forward portion of the said plow beam, as is shown inFig. 1, and the said link 21 is provided at its upper end with alongitudinal slot 22, through which ,slot a bolt 23 is loosely passed,the said bolt being secured to the frame beam 12, so that the forwardend of the plow beam 20 can be raised or lowered, and at the same timethrough the medium of the links 17 and 21 the plow beam be swungforwardly or rearwardly as desire The lower end of a rack bar 24 ispivoted on the pivot bolt 17 for the link 17, and the lower portion ofthe said rack bar 24 is opposite the recess 18 above referred to. Theteeth 25 of the said rack bar are upon its forward face as is shown inFig. 1.

shaft 26 is mounted to turn in the rear portion of the horizontalchannel bar A as is shown in Fig. 3; and this shaft 26 is provided witha crank arm 27 at its outer end, whereby to turn the shaft; and aratchet wheel 28 is made fast to the said shaft 26 or is attached tothesleeve portion of the crank arm 27, as is also shown in Fig. 3.

A U-shaped bracket 29 is loosely mounted on the shaft 26, and the saidU-shaped bracket extends rearward. Between the members of this bracket apinion 30 is secured to the shaft 26, the said pinion being adapted forengagement with the teeth of the rack bar 24, said rack bar being passedup through the U-shaped bracket 29 as is best illustrated in Fig. 3.

In, order to reduce the friction when the rack bar is raised and loweredby the turning of the shaft 26, an arm 31 is secured to one side of thebracket 29, extending above and below the bracket, and said arm isprovided with friction rollers 32 at its ends, and these frictionrollers engage with the rear plain face of the rack bar 24. By movingthe rack bar 24 upward and downward, the plow beam is raised or lowered,or adjusted as to elevation, and said plow beam is held in its adjustedposition by means of a pawl 33 which is pivoted on, the horizontalchannel bar A, and is adapted for engagement with the teeth of theratchet wheel 28.

In the construction of the plow, a plow frame B is provided,consisting'of a metal bar of suitable width, being of inverted U- shapeat its lower portion portion 35 being substantially L-shaped in At thelower end 34, its remaining 1 cross section, as is shown in Figs. 3 and4. f The lower extremity of the plow frame B is pivoted and its lowerportion is given a long I gradual downward and forward curvature l Whileits upper portion is substantially straight. Where the U-shapedformation of the plow frame B terminates an inwardlyextending lug 34 isformed at the right-hand l side, and at the top of the said bar anoutwardly-extending registering lug 36 is produced, which lugs formsupports for the end portions of a-guide bar 37. The point B of I theplow is removably secured to the frame by means of screws or theirequivalents, and

the upper face 38 of the said point is flat, al

though said point is given a gradual downward and forward inclination,as is shown in Fig. v 1. The mold-board B is given the usual transversecurved to the right, and is secured to the plow frame B by bolts orrivets; but where the mold-board B joins the point B the mold-board isgiven a gradual twist from left to right, as shown at 39 in Fig. 1,whereby to impart a quick start to the loosened earth from the point tothe moldboard, to be delivered by said mold-board to the surface of theground. at the right of the ditch.

The land side B is made quite high, extending upward almost as high asthe central portion of the mold-board, and the land side is bolted orotherwise secured to the plow frame B.- At the upper rear end of theland side a rearwardly-extending apertured lug 40 is formed, and therear portion of the land side, which is more or less segmental, isprovided witha recess 41, extending from the lug 40 downward to a pointnear its lower end to provide a shoulder 41, as is shown by dotted linesin Fig. 1, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A brace bar 42 is attached to the forward right-hand side of the plowframe B, which bar 42 extends rearward parallel with the bottom edge ofthe land side B and is secured at 1 its rear to the upwardly andrearwardlyexl tending guide bar 43, terminating a slight disi tance tothe rear of and above the land side I B. However, the bars 42 and 43 canbe made in one piece if desired.

The land side B is pivoted to the plow beam 20 by means of a suitablebolt 44, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and a handle 45 is offset from theinner face of the mold board B by a washer 46 and is secured to the moldboard by a bolt 47. This handle extends upward and rearward beyond themold board, I and the material thereof at its inner end is returned toform a bracket 48. The upper end. of the guide bar 43 is secured to thehan dle 45 as shown in Fig. 3, and the upper portion of the guide-bar isflattened to form an I ear 43", upon which-the hand lever 49 is pivoted;and the said lever 49 is attached to La pin 49*, held to slide in thebracket 48 of the land side B.

and in an opening in the handle 45. The outer end of the said pin isadapted to enter the aperture in the lug 40 of the landside, as isindicated in Fig. 3, and said pin is normally held in such position by aspring 51.

The lower end 52 of an upwardly-curved plate 53 is secured to the underface of the plow beam 20 at its right-hand. side, and the upright curvedplate 53 is provided with series of apertures 54, through any one ofwhich the pin 49 is adapted to pass before entering the aperture in thelug 40 of the land side, since the plate 53, which is virtually a keeperplate extends up at the outer or right-hand side of the land side, and aportion of the space between the keeper 53 and the plow beam 20 isclosed by a block 5%, shown in Figs. 3 and 4; but a su'flicient space isleft between the keeper and the plow beam to form a guide 56 for therecessed portion 41 It will thus be observed that the plow and its beamby means of the rack and pinion described can be raised and lowered asneeded; and that when the pin is carried out of locking engagement withthe keeper 53 tl'irough the medium of the lever 49, by moving the handleup or down the plow point m ay be given any angle or inclination desiredor deemed most advantageous during the work of ditching. It is alsoobvious that the plow point can be securely locked in its adjustedposition, and should the plow point become broken or otherwise damagedit can be readily removed. and as readily replaced by a new one. Theshoulder 41 on the land side upon striking the spacing block 54 limitsthe upward adjustment of the plow.

A cleaning wing C is provided, adapted to travel over the surface of theground at the right-hand side of the ditch to scrape the loose dirt fromthe edge of the ditch and carry .it some distance rearward therefrom.This wing C is in the form of a rectangular plate and has more or lessof an upward and rearward incl nation and an inclination from the moldboard rearward and to the right. The wing C is pivoted to a carryingplate 57, provided. with upper and lower eyes 58 which loosely receivethe rod 37 to the rear of the mold board as best shown in Fig. 3; and aspring 59 is secured to the upper eye 58 and to the inner lower portionof the plow frame B as is also shown in Fig. 3. The spring 59 pullsdownward, and as the plow is lowered in the ditch to further deepen itthe wing C and. its carrier plate 57 rise correspomlingly, placing thespring 59 under tension, so that the spring automatically acts to drawthe wing C downward as the plow is raised, and after the wing has passedover an elevation and reaches a depression, while the pivotalconnection. between the wing and its carrier enables a wing toaccommodate itself to any surface over which it is required to pass. Asthe wing C rises it is enabled to take a more decided rearwardinclination, and this is accomplished by securing an arm 60 to an offsetfrom the lower rear portion of the wing, as is shown in Fig. 4, andproviding this arm 60 with a recess 61, the recessed portion of the armbeing adapted to receive a guide bar 43, which guide bar has an upwardand a rearward inclination as is illustrated in Fig. 1. This provisionis made for carrying the dirt a greater distance from the ditch when theplow is deep therein than when the plow is first entered.

A boat-shaped guide 6]. is provided in connection with the machine, andthe said boatshaped guide is attached to the lower end of an arm 62 in apivotal manner, but the rock ing movement of the boat-guide is limitedby stops 63 formed upon its upper edge at its left-hand side, and thearm 62 carrying the boat-guide 61 is carried. upward with more 01' lessof a rearward inclination and is held in place on the plow beam 20 bymeans of a suitable clip 64. When the boat-guide is thus placed inposition on the plow beam the said boat-guide will be in directlongitudinal alinement with the point or the plow. The forward end ofthe boat-shaped guide 61 is more orless pointed, and the under surfaceof the guide at its for aid end is more or less upwardly turned as isshown at 65 in Fig. 1, so that the said guide can move over the bottom.of the ditch without interruption. This guide 61 is an effective pilotfor the machine at all times; it moves on the surface of the ground whenthe ditch is commenced and travels on the bottom of the opening duringthe entire time the ditch is being dug.

In connection with the plow beam 1 cmploy two cutters designatedrespectively as D and D. These cutters are adapted to cut the sides ofthe opening to produce the side walls for the ditch. The cutter D is inalinement with the land side or with the left-hand edge of the plow, andthe cutter D is in aline- 'ment with the right-hand longitudinal edge ofthe plow. Each cutter consists of a shank 66 and a blade 67. The shankof the cutter D is straight but the shank of the cutter 1) is curved atits upper end, and the up per ends of the shanks of both cutters areadapted to engage with the right-hand side of the plow beam 20, beingheld. in place by means of suitable clips designated respectively as 68and 69. The clips 68, 69 and 64 are of the same construction, consistingof opposing plates located at opposite sides of the plow beam, and boltsconnecting the plates, the bolts extending above and below the beam. Theblades 67 are removable from the shanks 66, and the said blades aresharpened at each longitudinal edge, so as to provide two cutting edgesdesignated as a and a, being best shown in Fig. 5; and the forwardlongitudinal edge of the shank 66 of lCO a cutter is beveled as shown ata in Fig. 5, the said beveled portion a of a shank being a continuationof the bevel at the cutting edge of the blade attached to the shank, andthe said blades have their end portions beveled in opposite direct-ionsand when the blade is in position on a shank the lower forward point isthe lowest point. Consequently when one cutting edge of a blade becomesdull the blade can be removed and turned end for end and againsecured'to the shank, thus bringing a new cutting edge in position foraction. The blades are secured to the shanks usually through the mediumof screws as shown in Fig. 5.

A horizontal draft bar 71 is secured to the right-hand side of the plowbeam 20 at its forward end, and this draft bar is apertured, and a hook7 2 connected with the draft device of the harness is made to enter anaperture in the draft bar 71 as may be found most convenient, since theteam travels on the surface of the ground at the right-hand side-of theditch.

A curved plate E is pivoted at the rear of the mold-board B in order towiden the moldboard when desired at or near the top of the ditch, as,for example, should the ground be very loose at the surface, suchwidening prevents the earth falling back into the ditch.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent,

1. In a ditching machine a wheel supported frame, having forwardly andrearwardly extending members, said members being out of alinement, aplow beam, a link connection between the forward and rear ends of theplow beam and the members of the frame, and means connecting therearwardly extending member of the frame with the rear end of the plowbeam whereby the beam may be raised and lowered.

2. In a ditching machine an arched wheel supported frame bar, aforwardly extending frame beam secured at one end to the frame bar, abar secured to the frame bar between its ends and out of alinement withthe frame beam, a plow beam, a link connecting the rear end of the plowbeam with the said bar, a link connecting the forward end of the plowbeam with the frame beam, and means for raising and lowering the plowbeam.

3. In a ditching machine, a plow beam, a plow having its land ate of itsends to the beam, and means for locking the land side to said beam.

4. In a ditching machine, a plow beam, a plow having its land sidepivoted to the beam, a handle secured to the land side of the plow, anda locking device carried by the handle for locking the land side to thebeam.

5. In a ditching machine, a wheel support ed frame, a frame beam securedto the frame,

side pivoted intermedia plow beam, a link connection between the forwardand rear ends of the plow beam and the said frame and frame beam, a rackpivoted at its lower end to the plow beam, a pinion on the frame andmeshing with the rack, means for operating the pinion, and means forlocking the pinion in position.

6. In a ditching machine, an arched frame I bar having spindles at itsends, wheels on the spindles, a longitudinal bar secured to the framebar, a frame beam secured to the i arched bar and to the longitudinalbar, a plow beam having a U-shaped head section at its rear end, a linkpivoted to the head section of the plow beam and to the longitudinal Ibar, a link pivoted to the forward end of the J plow beam and to theframe beam, and means for raising and lowering the plow beam and lockingit in position.

7. In a ditching machine, a plow beam, a i plow having its land sidepivoted intermediate of its end to the beam, means for limiting themovement of the plow on the beam, and means for locking the landside tothe beam.

8. In a ditching machine, a plow beam, a plow having its land sidepivoted to the beam, the rear edge of the land side being recessed,means on the plow beam for engaging the recess of the land side, andmeans for locking the land side to the beam.

9. In a ditching machine, a plow beam having an apertured bracket at itsrear end, a plow having its land side apertured and pivoted to the beam,means for limiting the swinging movement of the plow, and a pin forengaging the apertures of the bracket and land side.

10. In a ditching machine, a plow beam, an apertured bracket projectingupwardly from the rear end of the plow beam, a plow having its land sidepivoted to the plow beam, said land side being provided with an apertureat its rear upper portion, an operating lever carried by the plow, and aspring actuated locking pin carried by the operating lever and. adaptedto engage an aperture in the bracket of the beam and the aperture of theland side.

I 11. In a ditching machine, a plow beam having an upwardly proj ectingan d apertured bracket, the lower end of the bracket having a lateralflange, a plow having its land side l pivoted to the beam, the rearportion of the l land side being notched and provided with an aperture,an operating lever carried by the plow, a locking pin adapted to engagean aperture of the bracket of the beam and the aperture of the landside, and means for operatl ing the pin.

; 12. In a ditching machine, an arched body bar, axles secured to theends of the body 1 bar, wheels mounted on said axle, a beam 1 alsosecured to said body bar, a ditching apl paratus located beneath thebeam, pivoted with the plow point, cutters adjustably se- 1 cured to thesaid beam between the guide and the plow point, one cutter extendingfrom 15 the beam substantially flush with the leftl hand side of theplow and the other cutter 1 extending from the said beam flush with thel right-hand side of the plow.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 20 name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses:

\ WALTER UMSTEAD.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE D. VOGNETZ, WILLIAM SPRINGER.

